Wrench



F. IHUERINGER.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION msn Nov. 24. 1919.

1,406,106. Patented Feb. 7, 1,922.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Wannen.l

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 7, 1922,

Application led November 24, 1919. Serial No. 340,164.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK THUERINGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sauk Rapids, in the county of Benton and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to wrenches, and the primary object of theinvention is to provide an improved wrench, which can be adjusted by theclosing movement of the hand, so that the4 jaws of the same can bequickly adjusted to take hold of an article and to obviate the necessityof turning adjusting nuts or screws to get the desired adjustment.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for locking themovable jaw in adjusted position when desired by the user.

`A. further object of the invention is to provide aquick adjustingwrench having an improved lock for the movable jaw thereof, which isnormally held in an inoperative position, so that the jaws can be heldin an adjusted position with the work by the hand of the operator,thereby permitting the quick operation of the tool for light work.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved wrenchof the plier type having a wide range of adjustment and having the partsthereof so constructed as to provide a tool which will be durable andeiiicient in use, one which is simple and easy to manufacture, and onethat can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

' Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detaileddescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, and in which drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the improved wrench.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same with one of the platesremoved, and

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the plates, showing theinner side thereof.

Referring to the drawings, in detail, wherein similar referencecharacters designate `:corresponding parts throughout the several views,the letter A indicates the improved wrench, which includes the framesections B and C, carrying the rigid jaw D; the movable jaw F ;1 theoperating handle G, and the lock H.

The frame sections B and C are indentically formed and are adapted to beplacedl one upon the other, when the device is assembled, and eachincludes the arcuate handle portion 5 having the laterally projectinghead 6 formed on the outer terminal thereof. The inner face of the headportion 6 and the adjacent portion of the handle portion 5 is cut awayto form a pocket 7 for the movable jaw F and the inner portion of theoperating lhandle G, when the sections are placed one upon the other.The head portion 6 of the sections B and C are cut away in such a manneras to define side walls 8 and 9, which extend flush with the outer edgesof the head. The upper edge of each head portion 6, at one end thereof,is provided with an upwardly extending extension 10, which forms therigid jaw D.

The movable jaw F includes the relativel long laterally projecting shank11, whic as stated is adapted to be positioned in the pocket 7 when thesections Band C are placed together, and the sections form a guide forthe same. The side faces of the shank l1 are reduced to form shoulders12, which slidably engage the outer edges of the sections B and C. Oneend of the shank is provided with the outwardly extending jaw 13, andthe outer surfaces thereof extend in the same plane with the movable orrigid aw D. The inner faces of the pocket 7 have aligned guide grooves14 formed therein, which extend transversely across the head. Thegrooves 14 are adapted to slidably receive the longitudinally extendingribs 15 formed on the opposite faces of the shanks 11. The ribs 15 andthe grooves 14 provide means for guiding the movable jaw 13 in itssliding movement transversely acro'ss the head toward or away from-the.

rigid jaw D. The outer end of the shank 11 remote from the movable jaw13 is provided with arearwardly extending lug 16, which is adapted toengage the outer surface of the side wall 8 of the pocket, to limit theinward movement of the jaw section, and thus prevent displacementthereof. The inner edge of the shank 11 is provided with a rack bar 17,the teeth of which are adapted v to be engaged by the adjusting means G.

The adjusting means G include a flat body 18, having the circular head19 and the tangentially extending outwardly curved handle 2 0 which isadapted to cosrsv operate with the handle 5 in forming means, foradjusting the wrench. The circular -head 19 is adapted to lbe positionedin the 'pocket 7 and the same is provided with an opening 21,l which isadapted to receive the pivot pin 22, which 1s adapted to be threadedinto openings 23 formed in the companion sections B and C. The-pin 22forms means for pivotally securing the member G in (position and forholding the sections B an C in assembled position. lThe forward edge ofthe circular head 19 is provided with relatively large teeth 24, whichare adapted to mesh with the teeth of the rack bar 17 and thus it willbe seen that when the member 20 is operated, the movable jaw sectionYwill be moved toward or away from the rigid jaw D, according to thedirection in which the member is moved. The side face of the circularhead 19 is provided with relatively small teeth 25, which form means forcooperating'with the lock structure H for holding the head 19 againstmovement when the jaw 14 in its adjusted position against work which isrelatively hard to turn. The relatively small teeth 25 are substantially in the same arc with the relatively large teeth 2A, and theteeth 24 and the teeth 25 are substantially concentric with the axis ofthe opening 21. A leaf spring 26 is secured tothe opposite side of thecircular head 19 from the small teeth 25 by a screw or other suitablefastening element 27, and the free end of the spring is bent outwardlyand is adapted to engage the side wall -8 for normally holding thehandle 20 toward the handle 5, lso thatthe movab-le jaw structure F willbe held in a closed position with relation to the rigid jaw structure D.

The lock structure H includes a pawl 28 having a toothed end 29 which isadaptedy to engage the relatively small teeth 25. The

pawl 28 is provided with an opening 30 which is adapted to receive thepivot pin 31, which is threaded into the sections B and C and formsadditional means for holding the sections in assembled position. Thetoothed end 29 of the pawl is normally heldout`of engagement with theteeth 25, by means of an expansioncoil spring 32, which is seated inrecees 33 formed in the handle portion 5 of the sections B and C andwhich eirtend inwardly from the pocket 7. A thumb piece 34 is adapted toengage the awl 28 on the opposite side of the pivot pin 31 from thespring 32, and the same is adapted for swinging the pawl on its pivotwhen it is desired to move the toothed end thereof into engagement withthe relatively small teeth 25. The thumb piece 34 includes acylindricall shank 35 which is slidably mounted in an opening formed inthe raised portion 36 of the .face of the section C. A recess 36a 1sprovided in the section B to accommodate thev portion 36, when thesections B and C are clamped together. The opening in the portion 36communicates with the pocket 7 and the outer edge of the handle 5. The

shank 35 may be threaded into engagement with the pawl 28'and the samehas the outer end thereof provided with a fiat head 36". The sections 10of the rigid jaw sections B and C and the outer terminals of the handleportion 5 of the sections B and C are provided with suitable openings 37for the reception of screws or other fastening elements 38. The innersurfaces of the rigid jaw D and the movable jaw F is serrated orroughened to provide teeth 39 so that a firm and positive grip may beobtained yfon nuts, pipes, orother Work.

In operation of the improved wrench, the

4jaws ID and F are placed in engagement with the work, and the handles20 and 5 are then grasped by the hand ofthe user and brou t toward eachother which will forcibly ring the jaws into gripping contact with thework. If the'work is relatively easy to turn, it is not necessary to usethe lock structure H. However, if the work is hard to turn, the thumb ispressed on the flat head 36b so as to move the thumb piece 34 inwardlywhich will swing the pawl 28 on its pivot and force the toothed end 29thereof into enga-gement with relatively small teeth 25 on the circularhead 19, thus preventing movement of the adjusting means G, andconsequently of the jaw F.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that an improved tool ofsimple and durable construction is provided of the plier type which willpermit the quick and ready grasping of the Work.

Ch: nges in details may be made without departing from the spirit orscope of my invention; but, i

I claim:

v1. A wrench comprising a frame structure formed of two sections andhaving a rigid jaw and rigid handle thereon, the facing portions of saidsections recessed to rovide a pocket, a movable jaw, having a aterallyprojecting shank disposed within the pocket ortion of said framesection, an adjustable iiandle pivotally connected within the pocketportion of said frame and having a handle projecting therefrom adaptedto cooperate with the rigid handle of said frame, for moving the movablejaw, a pawl carried by said frame section, and means positionedexteriorly of the frame section for operating said awl to engage themovable handle, to loc the movable' jaw in a predetermined position.

2. In a wrench, the combination, of a frame structure comprising apairof rigid sections having rigid jaw sections thereon, said sectionshaving handle portions thereon and having the facing sides thereofrecessed to provide a pocket, a movable jaw section having a laterally`rejecting shank provided with lon 'tudina ribs adapted to engage therigid rame sections within the recessed pocket provided thereby, andadapted for sliding movement for ad'usting the degree of proximity ofsaid movable jaw. with respect to the rigid jaw, an adjustiii handle,and locking means carried by sai rigid frame section and adapted to lockthe movable jaw in a predetermined position with respect to said rigidjaw.

3. A wrench, comprising, in combination, a frame section, comprising apair ofsections, eaeh of said sections having arcuate handles, lateralheads formed integral with said handles, and projecting jaw sectionsformed upon each of said heads, to form a rigid jaw, the facin sides ofsaid lateral heads and handles being recessed to provide a pocket andhaving guiding grooves therein, a movable jaw having a laterallyrojecting shank thereon adapted for positioning in the pocket providedby said frame section and having guide ribs thereon for ositioningwithin the guide grooves of said rame section, and provided with atoothed rack bar, an adjusti handle pivoted within the pocket formednsaid frame section com rising a flat bodly having a circular hea saidcircular hea being provided forwardly with relativel large teeth adaptedto engage the teeth o said rack bar for adjusting the position of saidmovable jaw upon movement of the adjusting handle, the side of saidcircular head being provided withY relatively small teeth, a spring fornormally maintainin said movable jaw in closed position, a loc structurecomprising a awl having relatively small teeth thereon a apted to en agethe small teeth of the adustable hand e, and a thumb piece carried ysaid frame structure and adapted for adjustment to move said pawl intoengagement with the adjustable handle for positioning the movable jaw ina predetermined posi-k tion with respect to the rigid jaw.

4. A wrench comprising a frame, a rigid jaw formed on one end of theframe, a rigid iandle formed on the opposite end of the frame, anadjustable jaw slidably mounted transversely of the frame forcooperation with the rigid jaw, an operating handle carried by the frameand operatively connected to said movable jaw for permitting the movingthereof into clampin position in relation to the rigid jaw2 loc 'inteeth formed on said handle, a locking paw pivotally carried bythe framearranged to en age the teeth, spring means normally holding the pawl outof engagement with the teeth, and a thumb piece for moving the pawlagainst the tension of the spring means into engagement with the teethwhereby movement of the operating handle will be prevented and the jawheld in its adjusted position.

5. A wrench comprisin a frame having a laterally rojectin hea, aforwardly extending rigid jaw ormed on one end of the head, a rearwardlyprojecting handle formed on the op ite end of the head, a sliding jawcarrie by the head and movable transversely thereof provided with a rackface, a pivoted handle carried by the head having teeth, certain ofwhich are dis d in engagement with the rack face, where y upon movementof the handle the sliding 'aw will be actuated, a (pivoted pawl carriframe arrange to engage certain other of the teeth formed on the movablehandle, and spring means normally holding the pawl from out ofengagement with said teeth, and means for rmitting the manual moving ifsaid paw into engagement with said teet i Y FRANK THUERINGER.

by the

